A man who killed his girlfriend’s 18-month-old child in 2021 in Greeley will spend the rest of his life behind bars after he was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life without parole.
After less than four hours of deliberation Tuesday afternoon, a jury found 29-year-old Andy Carter guilty of first-degree murder. On Wednesday morning, Weld District Judge Timothy Kerns sentenced him to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kerns added a six-year consecutive sentence for an assault on a detentions deputy Carter committed in 2023 while in the Weld County Jail. He pleaded guilty to that charge as part of a deal in October.
As part of that plea deal, the Weld District Attorney’s Office dismissed four felony charges and 13 misdemeanors, including second-degree assault on an officer involving bodily fluids, introducing contraband and rioting in a detention facility, according to Colorado court records.
Carter’s case dates back to July 2, 2021, when he took his girlfriend’s daughter, Emorie Goodro, to the emergency room for a brain bleed. She later died after being taken to Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.
An investigation determined the Emorie’s injuries occurred at home in the 2400 block of Ash Avenue in Greeley, where she was in the sole care of Carter, who was dating the child’s mother.
Greeley police arrested Cater on July 8 on suspicion of child abuse resulting in death, andhe was later charged with first-degree murder of a victim under 12 by a person in a position of trust, as well as a pair of third-degree assault charges.
Andy Serrel Carter, Jr. (Courtesy photo/Weld County Sheriff’s Office)Carter pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder charge on Sept. 8, 2022, and has maintained his innocence since, though in a statement during his sentencing Thursday, he acknowledged that how he acted has played a role in his conviction.
“I’m willing to accept my life sentence and whatever you decide to give me on the second-degree assault because my actions have played a big part in everything that’s happened,” he said. “I’m truly sorry from the bottom of my heart for what happened to Emorie.”
The prosecution chose not to pursue the additional charges Carter was facing at the request of the victim’s family.
Tuesday’s hearing began with Emorie’s grandmother, then mother, sharing how much the loss has changed everything.
“This tragedy has left an unthinkable void in our lives, one that will never be filled,” her grandmother said. “I often find myself longing for just one more moment with Emorie. One more chance to hold her. To see her in my home surrounded by love and laughter from our family and her four siblings. But unfortunately, that moment will never come.”
And while they will never forget the pain Carter put them through, they will also not let his actions skew their memory of their daughter and granddaughter, nor will they let him drag them down to his level.
“I feel no sympathy for Mr. Carter, not one ounce,” her grandmother said. “My family will carry on Emorie’s legacy by spreading love, goodness and kindness. A stark contrast from the darkness he brought into this world.”
The child’s mother shared many of the same sentiments, mentioning the emptiness she will feel for the rest of her life and all the moments they will miss out on together. But she also took some time to address those who attacked and blamed her for the child’s death.
“I spent years afraid to open my phone,” she said. “Every case update is filled with a comment section of toxic true crime junkies calling me a slew of horrible slurs. …
“They have no issues voicing their opinions on my daughter’s case and how I should be held responsible,” she added. “Maybe it makes them feel superior when they dictate what I should or shouldn’t have done, but at the end of the day, I hope those trolls understand that nothing they can say will be worse than what I’ve said myself. They have no idea how much I blame myself for my daughter’s murder.”
Kerns called the people blaming her “deplorable” and “uninformed.” He said he read everything there was to read about the case and that she should feel no fault for Carter’s heinous actions.
“The only thing you deserve is respect,” Kerns said.
Since the life sentence without parole was the only sentence Kerns could issue for the murder charge, sentencing arguments from the prosecution were fairly short.
The defense, however, touched on how Carter’s troubled upbringing led to the position he is in now. Attorney Rachel Lanzen told a story of how Carter would be ridiculed as a child when he would go to school barefoot because his family could not afford shoes.
“Reading about Carter’s life, he was failed repeatedly,” Kerns said. “It’s particularly sad because you had made it out and were on a trajectory of success.”
Before sentencing Carter, Kerns closed by first thanking the jury. He shared his gratitude for the 12 people who had no idea what they were walking into or the gruesome details they would hear.
Finally, he wished everyone the best moving forward — including Carter himself.
“My hope is that this can be some closure,” Kerns said. “Some peace found for everyone. And that includes you, Mr. Carter.”
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